PALO, Leyte – A top official of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Southern Leyte denied that an arrest order was issued against him for failure to clear road obstructions along the national highway.

In a statement released on Tuesday, District Engineer Eduardo Santos of the DPWH Southern Leyte-Sub District Engineering Office said he is not aware of any court order for his arrest.

"At the present moment, there are no summons issued from a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce an arrest against me, and to the best of my knowledge neither a criminal complaint nor a formal investigation has been instituted," he said in a statement posted in the official media account of the DPWH regional office.

Santos made the statement amid reports alleging that the Provincial Board of Southern Leyte passed a resolution ordering the Maasin City Police Station to arrest him for continuously ignoring invitations for him to appear before the body in their sessions.

The provincial board wanted Santos to explain the proliferation of huge tarpaulin posters of local politicians along the sidewalks of national roads in Southern Leyte which distracts drivers and brings hazard to motorists and pedestrians.

Santos stated that during the regular meeting of the provincial board on 29 August 2023, the assembly told DPWH district office officials there were no existing resolutions pertaining to the said arrest.

The officials said, though, that he will cooperate in any investigation when any order from competent authority arises in the future.

"I categorically deny any allegations of arrest. I have never been arrested or charged with any criminal offense. These allegations are completely false and without merit," he added.